8 Tips On Ageing Well

Do you remember the day when you looked in the mirror and saw the first wrinkle? I do. I was in my early twenties and oh how I tried to get rid of this thing across my forehead. Masks, moisturisers, serums... I even tried botox seven years ago - nothing. And then I understood it is not about not having wrinkles or not ageing. It’s about doing it well! There are many stunning, sexy, inspiring women of age. Mental and physical self-care is a key ingredient for the glow. 

Do you need some ideas? Here are 8 tips from my mum (age 58) and me (age 34) on how to look after the skin to keep it healthy for the years to come.

1. Establish A Consistent Skincare Routine

A healthy youthful skin is a journey that requires commitment. With skin’s renewal cycle of 28-40 days (it takes longer as we age), you need to give your products time to work. Apply them rigorously and pick the ones that use proven renewing actives such as niacinamide (5%), retinoids, vitamin C, bakuchiol. The youthful glow is not about a shelf stacked with 20 different products, it is achieved by having 3-4 products that work and applying them consistently.

Here is how my morning and evening routine looks like:

MORNING

I cleanse with Purity Face And Body Soap to gently freshen up and remove traces of skincare I apply at night. Following that, I apply Daily Glow Face Cream. It is formulated with niacinamide and sea buckthorn extract which promotes skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of fine lines. I finish off by applying a UVA/ UVB SPF50 sunscreen to protect my skin from UV ageing and avoid uneven pigmentation.

EVENING

I double cleanse using The Veil Cleansing Balm to take the day off. Upon contact with skin and water it turns into a luxuriously rich oil that removes any makeup and impurities. Once a week I apply it and leave on for 10-15 minutes to get all rejuvenating and nourishing benefits. I follow with Daily Glow Face Cream on my face and neck with a few drops of Aurora Facial Serum that is rich in bakuchiol which has all the restorative benefits of retinol and none of the side effects.

2. Don’t Forget To Hydrate

Water makes the skin plump, glowing and supports its restorative processes. It may be unpopular to say, but you DO need water in your cosmetics. It is a scientific fact: a purely oil-based routine will eventually leave your skin dehydrated, dull and prone to forming wrinkles. 

Reduce coffee, alcohol and salty foods - they are extremely dehydrating. Make sure to drink several glasses of water each day (add some mint or lemon to enhance the flavour). This will help to improve the overall elasticity of your skin, and give it a hydrated, plump appearance as well.

3. Do Not Skip SPF In The Morning

UV exposure accounts for up to 80% of visible signs of skin ageing. Sun exposure without protection leads to dry, dull appearance of the skin, more visible wrinkles and uneven pigmentation. This happens on cloudy days and even through the glass! Apply sunscreen daily and be generous with it. I use SPF50 but any UVA/UVB SPF of 25+ will be good.

4. Eat Antioxidant-Rich Diet 

We also age because we… breathe (I don’t recommend giving that up). Without getting too technical, oxygen reacts with our cells and over time causes their ageing. This is why green tea, tomatoes and other antioxidant-rich foods and skincare ingredients (vitamin E) are crucial in maintaining youth for longer.

For example, my breakfast is usually mixed leaves salad with an avocado, cherry tomatoes and pumpkin seeds sprinkled with virgin olive oil, a poached egg and a cup of green tea. Quick and easy, it provides necessary nutrients and energy to kickstart the day.

5. Avoid Inflammatory foods

Sugar and carbs cause a low-level chronic inflammation in our body cells, leading to accelerated ageing. If you’d like to know more, I highly recommend a book by MD Dermatologist Dr Stefanie Williams “Future proof your skin: Slow down your biological clock by changing the way you eat”.

6. Treat Yourself With A Facial massage

As collagen and elastin break down with age and skin starts to sag. That’s why I advise you to do a face-lifting, firming facial massage following Yukuko Tanaka two to three times a week. Or try doing 5-10 minutes of facial yoga every day. Have a look at Fumiko Takatsu advice on her Face Yoga Method channel.

7. Invest Your Time In Beauty Sleep

Our bodies regenerate while we sleep, which is where the beauty sleep originates from. Commit to getting a good night’s sleep of around 8h each night. If you have trouble falling asleep, our Lavender and Flaxseed eye pillow is excellent at aiding natural sleep and relaxation before bedtime.

8. Chill Out!

Try to reduce stress. It is one of the leading causes of faster ageing (among many other negative impacts on our bodies and mental health). It puts your body and mind into an overdrive by releasing stress hormones. Might be good on rare occasion (it’s a natural defence mechanism afterall), but not as a lifestyle choice. Relaxed is sexy!

You might not be able to stop the time, but you definitely can count your years while boasting a youthful glow. Do you have an ageing-well tip? Let us know in the comments below.